Department for Transport

M5: Stroud

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress the Highways Agency has made on noise mitigation measures on the M5 at Upton St. Leonards.

Andrew Jones: The main measures to mitigate noise are new road surfacing and noise barriers. Highways England has three resurfacing schemes in their forward programme for this area. The resurfacing will be done after essential repairs to bridge structures have been completed to avoid disruption to users of the M5.Later this month works to inspect the condition of the noise fence from junction 11A to Gloucester Painswick bridge which covers the Upton St Leonards section of the M5 motorway will start and opportunities for a temporary noise barrier looked at.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including producers of aviation fuel in the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government has taken to promote research into sustainable aviation fuels and advanced fuels technologies.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to promote the development of sustainable aviation fuels in the UK.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport ran an Advanced Fuels Call for Evidence in 2013/14 to examine the potential of advanced fuels in aviation and other transport sectors that cannot be easily decarbonised without low-carbon fuels. A summary of the evidence received was published with the Department’s response to the consultation on the post-implementation review of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) in April 2014. Amendments to the RTFO earlier this year increased rewards for gaseous fuels, such as biomethane used in freight, to better reflect their energy content.The Department also commissioned an independent feasibility study to examine the economic benefits and potential of advanced biofuels in the UK, published in February 2014, the study informed the design of the Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Plant Competition for £25m of matched grant funding. Winning projects were announced on 7th September 2015.The Department for Transport and the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership established a Transport Energy Task Force in September 2014 to examine options to meet our renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets, including through the wider deployment of sustainable biofuel. The Task Force included input from representatives of the Sustainable Aviation group.The Task Force’s report was published in March 2015 by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. The Task Force acknowledged that sustainable biofuels have a valuable role in reducing carbon emissions from transport, particularly in sectors where there are limited alternatives such as aviation and I met with Task Force representatives, including Sustainable Aviation, in July to discuss that report.Following the report of the Transport Energy Task Force, we are assessing the benefits of making aviation biofuels eligible for certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) and support under that scheme for synthetic fuels from renewable electricity. We aim to include proposals in a public consultation next year on potential amendments to the RTFO scheme.

Aviation: Noise

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has conducted or commissioned on (a) how noise emissions from aviation affect local communities and (b) the effectiveness of different noise mitigation approaches in reducing the number of people affected by aircraft noise.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In 2012 a National Noise Attitude Survey was carried out on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which included attitudes to noise from transport sources including aircraft.In 2014/15, Ipsos/MORI conducted on behalf of the Department for Transport a survey on noise attitudes which focused on noise from civil aviation, near to major airports in England. The results of the survey are currently being analysed with a view to publishing a report next year.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential for aviation emissions to be reduced through improved air traffic management.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The UK has set targets for the next five years for air traffic management aimed at reducing flying times and therefore aircraft emissions. Theseare in line with the environmental target contained within the EU performance scheme. In addition UK industry is actively involved in the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme which is developing new technology and operational procedures that will lead to further improvements in this area. This includes the implementation of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Future Airspace Strategy which has the need to reduce aviation emissions as a key objective.

Midland Main Railway Line

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his current estimate is of when the (a) electrification and (b) improvement of the Midland mainline will be completed (i) in Northamptonshire and (ii) for the whole line.

Claire Perry: Electrification of the line should be completed north from Bedford to Ketteringand Corby in Northamptonshire by 2019 and the whole line north from Kettering to Leicester / Derby/ Nottingham & Sheffield by 2023.Network Rail is proposing that line speed and capacity improvement works forming the remainder of the improvement works to the line will be co-ordinated with electrification in order to minimise disruption to passengers on the route.Sir Peter Hendy has been asked to review Network Rail’s enhancement portfolio, so that works may be delivered over a more realistic timeframe. When we receive his report, expected later in the autumn, we will be able to announce more about the programme for the capacity and line speed works planned for the Midland Mainline.

Shipping: Registration

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the Maritime Growth Study, published on 7 September 2015, on reforms to the UK ship register.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government will respond formally to the Maritime Growth Study by the end of 2015, but is taking immediate action in response to some recommendations. This includes the establishment of a Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth and taking steps to support the improved operation of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) such as appointing a commercial director to lead the UK Ship Register separately from the Agency’s regulatory functions and a business case exploring the costs and benefits of options for more significant reform of the MCA.

British Transport Police: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers there were in London on 1 October (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers in London were contracted to work night shifts as at 1 October (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers were working night shifts in London on each day of September 2015.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 29 October 2015



The table below sets out the number of British Transport Police (BTP) officers working in Greater London (all London boroughs) on 1 October in each year between 2010 and 2015:2010201120122013201420151,7151,6381,6431,6081,5921,732The table below sets out the number of officers in Greater London (all London boroughs) which were contracted to work night shifts as at 1 October in each year between 2010 and 2015:201020112012201320142015464953555257All BTP officers could potentially be rostered on to night shifts if necessary.The table below sets out the number of BTP officers that were working night shifts in Greater London (all London Boroughs) on each day of September 2015:01 September 20154902 September 20156203 September 20156404 September 20156105 September 20156206 September 20155907 September 20156208 September 20156109 September 20155910 September 20155711 September 20156012 September 20156113 September 20156114 September 20155715 September 20155016 September 20156017 September 20155918 September 20155919 September 20155820 September 20155721 September 20155822 September 20155723 September 20156124 September 20156225 September 20156326 September 20156027 September 20156128 September 20155829 September 20156130 September 201555It is important to note that the number of officers contracted and due to work night shifts would have increased if the night tube had not been deferred.

Petrol: Prices

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's press release, Petrol price signs on motorways, dated December 2014, what progress he has made of the pilot introduction of motorway signs that show comparison petrol prices at different service stations; and how many such signs are in operation.

Andrew Jones: The Government has been finalising the detailed design for trialling new traffic signs. Highways England has provided a further announcement on fuel pricing traffic signs on 2 November 2015. Drivers using a section of the M5, between Bristol and Exeter, will soon benefit from new signs showing the price of fuel along the motorway.The move is part of a trial by Highways England designed to give drivers more information to help their journeys and to boost competition on fuel prices. Five motorway service areas are involved in the trial which, depending on the results, could ultimately be rolled out nationally.Electronic message signs will show the price of fuel at Gordano, Sedgemoor, Bridgwater, Taunton Deane and Exeter motorway service areas.

Level Crossings

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2015 to Question 2215, and with reference to the indicative timetable contained in his Department's Level Crossing Reform Action Plan, whether he will issue a public consultation on the reform of legislation relating to level crossings in 2015.

Claire Perry: The Department continues to develop its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation.Initial discussions with stakeholders have raised a number of concerns which the Department will need to consider further.This is a highly complex area and we must ensure that any amendments to the legislative framework do not adversely impact on the UK’s position of having the best level crossing safety record in Europe.

High Speed Trains

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2015 to Question 13080, whether a clause exists in the lease agreement referred to in that Answer that would enable Great Western Railway's Intercity 125 fleet to remain temporarily with that franchise if the introduction of the Intercity Express Programme fleet was delayed.

Claire Perry: This terms of the lease agreement are a commercial matter between the operator and the rolling stock leasing company.

Driving: Young People

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department's press release, Government to overhaul young driver rules in bid to improve safety and cut insurance costs, issued 25 March 2013, when heplans to publish the Green Paper on young drivers referred to in that press release.

Andrew Jones: Every death is a tragedy and is one too many. However, there is a difficult balance to strikebetween the safety and the freedom of our young drivers, and we are currentlyundertaking research into how to make our roads safer. We will explore optionsaround how to improve learning to drive and encouraging people to practice morebefore they take their test.

Great Western Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of the signalling component of the Great Western Modernisation Programme at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Claire Perry: At present Network Rail’s Chair, Sir Peter Hendy, is reviewing the enhancements programme, including upgrades on the Great Western line. Due to interdependencies, renewals of signalling must be looked at in parallel with this, as part of Network Rail’s work to update its Delivery Plan. Therefore it is not possible to provide an up to date cost estimate until the conclusions of these reviews and plans are known.

A595

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2015 to Question 13099, whether, as part of his Department's work with Transport for the North, he has discussed the possibility of conducting a feasibility study into improving the A595.

Andrew Jones: Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership are currently taking forward two infrastructure studies. One of these is in partnership with Highways England and will specifically consider accessibility to West Cumbria, including issues on the A595. Both studies are due to complete early next year and will be able to feed into the Roads Investment Strategy for 2020/21 to 2024/25 and the work Transport for the North is undertaking to establish the North’s future transport priorities.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Government Departments: Land

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of development land with planning consent is controlled by central government departments.

Brandon Lewis: Whilst the Government does not hold this information centrally, it is committed to releasing surplus public sector land and property to deliver savings, and support economic growth, in particular housing. We are working with Departments to review and accelerate release of sites with capacity for up to 150,000 homes by 2020. We have also set up the Government Property Finder website which allows members of the public to map and search the Government Estate, including land and buildings for sale and rent.

Government Departments: Derelict Land

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of brownfield land is controlled by central government departments.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold this information.The Housing and Planning Bill will require local authorities to have a statutory register of brownfield land that is suitable for housing, improving the availability and transparency of up-to-date information.

Housing: Leeds

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of properties required to meet housing demand in Leeds City Region for the next (a) five years and (b) 15 years.

Brandon Lewis: We believe in localism and, therefore, the Government does not assess demand for housing or set housing targets. The National Planning Policy Framework and planning guidance expects local authorities to objectively identify and then meet the housing needs of their area.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to compel the housing associations who voted against an extension of the Right to Buy discount in the National Housing Federation ballot on 2 October 2015 to comply with that policy.

Brandon Lewis: We are pleased to see that 93% of the total housing association stock is covered by those associations who said yes to the offer.We would like as many associations as possible to sign up to the deal - so that their tenants can access the same home ownership opportunities as other tenants - and the opportunity is still there for them to do so.The Housing and Planning Bill will also introduce a clause where the Regulator will have the power to monitor and report on how private registered providers are supporting their tenants into home ownership.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of what proportion of the funding for the housing association Right to Buy policy will come from the new duty on local authorities to consider selling vacant high-value council homes, proposed in section 69 of the Housing and Planning Bill.

Brandon Lewis: We have been clear that the Right to Buy Discounts for housing association tenants would be funded by the selling off of vacant high value local authority housing.

Housing: Derelict Land

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his Department is doing to ensure that brownfield land which may have been used by heavy industry is cleaned and prepared for house building in (a) Bolton West constituency and (b) England and Wales.

Brandon Lewis: We are supporting the regeneration of brownfield land through a range of measures. This includes up to £400 million to help create Housing Zones which can be used to cover the costs of land remediation, and a £1 billion fund which we intend to create to focus on unlocking homes on brownfield land for additional housing.We are also supporting development on brownfield sites through the existing Large Sites Programme, which provides long term loan finance and support to developers, and by releasing enough public sector land for over 150,000 homes by 2020.In Bolton the Homes and Communities Agency have been working with the Council and the Joint Venture ‘Horwich Vision’ since 2008 to facilitate the redevelopment of a large contaminated site - the former Horwich Loco Works for housing.Through the Housing and Planning Bill the Government will require local planning authorities in England to create and maintain registers of brownfield land that is suitable for housing.

Local Government: Devolution

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to local authorities seeking a devolution deal.

James Wharton: Officials in my Department as well as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Her Majesty's Treasury are in regular dialogue with local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships about devolution deals. In addition, a large number of Government departments and agencies are providing more specialist policy expertise both in negotiating and implementing devolution deals.

Take-away Food

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to change how take-away food delivery drivers are regulated.

Mr Marcus Jones: This is not a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Housing: Bristol South

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes were completed in Bristol South constituency in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on house building starts and completions are not available by parliamentary constituency.These statistics for England and for each local authority district, including Bristol, are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link:http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-buildingThe house building statistics exclude other sources of housing supply such as conversions.

Five Mile Act 1665

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the passage into law of the Five Mile Act 1665.

Mr Marcus Jones: My Department has no plans to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the passage into law of the Nonconformists Act 1665.The Nonconformist Act was rightly repealed in 1689.Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, democracy, the rule of law, and equal rights define us as a society. The Government is determined to promote these values actively, working in partnership and alongside all communities.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Credit Unions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of the House of Commons Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Brake: Since March 2013 staff and Members of both Houses have been able to access financial support and advice on managing their personal finances from London Mutual Credit Union (LMCU). In addition they also offer financial products such as savings and loans which can be deducted directly from employees’ salaries via payroll, and for Members via IPSA. In November 2013, the facility with LMCU was formally launched at a reception held by Mr Speaker.LMCU is promoted on the Parliamentary intranet, in the House of Commons Staff Handbook and at new staff inductions. LMCU also have a presence at the annual Wellbeing Day.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Since 2010-11, in line with wider Government policy, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has restricted Performance Related Pay (PRP) awards for senior civil servants within the FCO to the top 25% of performers. Since April 2015 the FCO has restricted PRP awards for UK based staff across all grades to the top 25% of performers.In providing the below figures, we have interpreted 'last three years' to be the last three financial years. Amounts paid to officials working for the FCO, FCO Services and to those on interchange on FCO terms and conditions have been included within the figures provided.The following amounts in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses were paid to FCO officials in each of the last three financial years, we also note the numbers of staff who received the bonuses during each of the financial years:FY14-15 a) £6,274,254.70; 4160 officers received a year PRPb) £575,894.46 ; 1714 officers received an in-year PRPFY13-14 a) £6,654,783.10; 4271 officers received a year end PRPb) £566,880.52; 1642 officers received an in-year PRPFY12-13 a) £6,658,384.20; 4076 officers received a year end PRPb) £757,403.98; 2492 officers received an in-year PRPNon-consolidated PRP is only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer.

Kashmir: Human Rights

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Hugo Swire: I am aware of concerns about human rights violations on both sides of the Line of Control. We have consistently maintained that any allegations of human rights abuses should be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently.

Northern Ireland Office

IRA

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to paragraph 13 of the report commissioned by her Department on Paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, published 19 October 2015, what assessment she has made of the extent to which the IRA's Provisional Army Council oversees the Provisional IRA and Sinn Fein with an overarching strategy.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Northern Ireland Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Complaints

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to enable the Government to direct the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland to investigate a complaint from a former police officer where matters giving rise to the complaint took place more than 12 months ago and there are exceptional circumstances which justify such an investigation being held.

Mr Ben Wallace: The RUC (Complaints etc) Regulations 2001 allow the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to investigate complaints into matters which took place more than 12 months ago in exceptional circumstances, for example when new evidence has come to light which was not reasonably available at the time of an original complaint.The Police Ombudsman is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly, through the Minister of Justice for Northern Ireland.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Data Protection

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; which non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and agencies overseen by his Department will be affected by that regulation; and what estimate he has made of the potential liability of his Department, its agencies and NDPBs in connection with that proposed regulation.

Joseph Johnson: Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of trilogue negotiations between the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, there will be a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Joseph Johnson: Non-consolidated performance related pay is paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. These one-off payments are not pensionable. Since 2010-11 the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving around £15 million overall.An element of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills overall pay award for staff below the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is allocated to non-consolidated, non-pensionable pay related to performance. There are two types of award: in-year awards and annual performance awards.Performance awards for the SCS are part of the pay system across the whole Senior Civil Service, and are used to reward high performance sustained throughout the year.Information in the table shows the cost of each of these type of awards in each of the last three years.YearNon-SCS End year Annual Performance AwardsNon-SCS In-Year AwardsSCS Annual Performance AwardsTotal2013£1,540,773£332,080£577,925£2,450,7782014£990,360£492,228£576,000£2,058,5882015£1,288,474*£605,608£539,500£2,433,582* A few end year payments still to be made so this figure is the latest and may increase

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Labour Turnover

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the level of staff turnover was in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's digital team in each of the last 12 months for which data is available.

Joseph Johnson: The turnover rate for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), including UKTI for each of the 12 months from September 2014 – August 2015, is set out in the table below.MonthTurnover rateSep-1414.3%Oct-1415.1%Nov-1415.6%Dec-1415.6%Jan-1515.1%Feb-1514.9%Mar-1515.0%Apr-1515.0%May-1515.1%Jun-1514.7%Jul-1514.8%Aug-1514.8%The digital capability within BIS is not limited to a single team and is not recorded separately.

Students: Loans

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of how many people in Blackburn who have taken out student loans since 2012 will be affected by the freezing of the repayment threshold of student loans at £21,000.

Joseph Johnson: The consultation on freezing the student loan repayment threshold closed on 14 October.The Student Loans Company (SLC) administers student support for the UK Government and Devolved Administrations. Information on the number of borrowers is published annually by the SLC in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Loans in England: FY 2014-15’. http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/student-loans-debt-and-repayment/england.aspxAt the end of the financial year 2014-15, there were 3,450 borrowers on post-2012 student loan arrangements who had been domiciled in Blackburn when they applied for financial support.

Students: Loans

Kate Hollern: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many responses he has received to the consultation, Freezing the student loan repayment threshold, launched in July 2015; and when he expects the results of that consultation to be published.

Joseph Johnson: The consultation on freezing the student loan repayment threshold closed on 14th October. Over four hundred responses have been received and are being analysed. We will publish the results in due course.

Students: Loans

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the evidential basis is for the proposition that freezing the repayment threshold for plan 2 student loans is likely to result in student loans being repaid to a greater extent than under the current terms.

Joseph Johnson: Estimates of the impact of freezing the repayment thresholds for borrowers are illustrated in the consultation document, which has been published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-thresholdThese are based on analysis using the Department’s Student Loan Repayment Model: further details on the model are available at the Department’s website https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/simplified-student-loan-repayment-model

Students: Loans

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects of the Government's proposal to freeze the repayment threshold for plan 2 student loans on the amount of money likely to be paid back over the 30 year repayment period.

Joseph Johnson: The assessment of additional loan repayments has been set out in the published consultation document which is published here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-threshold

Employment: Crime

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraph 62 of the Government's consultation document, Tackling Exploitation in the Labour Market, published in October 2015, what limitations currently exist on data sharing between labour market enforcement bodies.

Nick Boles: While information is already shared between labour market enforcement bodies, the existing information sharing gateways in numerous Acts of Parliament are limited as regards with whom information can be shared and for what purpose. Legislative changes may be required to allow greater information sharing between enforcement bodies. For example we want to ensure that HMRC National Minimum Wage enforcement officers are able to share information effectively with the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities.We are also engaging with the relevant enforcement bodies to identify possible non-legislative barriers to information sharing.

Department for International Development

African Union: Overseas Aid

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what non-financial aid her Department has provided to the African Union in the last five years.

Grant Shapps: In the last five years DFID’s non-financial support to the African Union has included the following projects at the cost of some £7m: two independent audits of international funding for the AU’s “Shared Values” Joint Programme Arrangement; technical advice to the AU Commission on developing a results based Logical Framework approach; support for the AUC Leadership Assessment Centre; technical advice on setting up the AU Institute for Statistics; technical support for AU work on Regional Trade Facilitation; capacity support to the AU Department of Political Affairs; and technical support for AU election observation missions which has received the bulk of DFID funding.

Overseas Aid

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of equipment for UK aid projects was sourced from businesses in the UK in each of the last three years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID does not procure goods and equipment directly, procurement agents, suppliers and partner organisations deliver this service on our behalf. DFID’s aid is untied with a focus on achieving the best value for money for the overall project aim.

Foreign Workers

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on encouraging UK businesses with overseas supply chains to abide by fair practice and pay a fair wage.

Mr Desmond Swayne: All suppliers working with DFID sign up to our ‘Statement of Priorities and Expectations’. This confirms that suppliers agree to align with DFID’s standards and priorities including Corporate Social Responsibility, accountability and transparency and treatment of subcontractors.Recently DFID wrote to all suppliers emphasising the importance of how they engage their supply chain and to demonstrate fair treatment of subcontractors throughout contract delivery. We have also strengthened our terms and conditions relating to treatment of subcontractors including requirement to pay promptly

Developing Countries: Sanitation

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect that climate change is having on (a) clean water and (b) adequate sanitation facilities in developing countries.

Grant Shapps: Through the UK Government’s International Climate Fund DFID has worked with the World Health Organisation to assess the effect that climate change will have on water and sanitation facilities and has produced a joint report titled ‘Vision 2030’. This outlines the evidence, and sets out what can be done to optimise the resilience of water and sanitation technologies, infrastructure and services. DFID has also funded the Overseas Development Institute to produce a report assessing the risks that climate change poses to the delivery of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes. All of DFID’s WASH programmes require sustainability and climate risks to be taken into account in design and delivery.

Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department plans to contribute to the Global Fund in financial years (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17.

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has contributed to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (a) since the creation of that fund and (b) in each of the last five years.

Grant Shapps: The UK remains a strong and active supporter of the Global Fund and has pledged a contribution of up to £1 billion between 2014 and 2016 for the Global Fund’s 4th replenishment, subject to a 10% donor share cap. As part of this, in 2015-16 the UK has contributed £100m.The 5th replenishment, for 2017-2019, has not been launched yet, so the UK contribution has not yet been determined.The UK has contributed £2.05bn to the Global Fund since its inception. From a standing start in 2002, the UK’s unwavering support has enabled the Global Fund to keep 8.1 million people alive with HIV therapy, distribute 548 million mosquito nets, detect and treat 13.2 million cases on TB, and has contributed to a decline of one third in the number of people dying from the three diseases since 2002 in Global Fund countries.The UK has contributed: £128m in 2011/12; £128m in 2012/13; £543m in 2013/14; £285m in 2014/15, and; £100m 2015/16. This totals £1.184bn over the 5-year period.

Africa: Agriculture

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential role of agroecology in African rural development.

Grant Shapps: Agro ecological approaches have an important role to play in specific contexts, including in Africa, but DFID does not prescribe technical approaches centrally. The best approaches for interventions are identified in consideration of the specific context of implementation. DFID is supporting a wide range of programmes with agro-ecological components, from soil and water conservation and land use management to climate resilience and conservation agriculture. On the research front, DFID supports the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security research programme as well as the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research and Learning in Africa. The Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme supports farmers to adapt agricultural systems to be climate resilient. The full range of our programmes can be found on our Development Tracker: http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/

Zimbabwe: Civil Servants

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make finances available from her Department's budget to fund payments owed by the Zimbabwean government for former employees of the Southern Rhodesian government until such time as the Zimbabwean government is able to meet its legal commitment to those employees.

Grant Shapps: The government sympathise with the plight of those former public servants who are entitled to a Zimbabwe government pension. For years there have been problems with late payment or non-payment of pensions, and the benefits have been severely eroded. Officials from the FCO, and the British Embassy in Harare last raised Pensions with the Zimbabwean government in September.As acknowledged by the OSPA, the responsibility for payment of these pensions rests squarely with the Zimbabwean government. The UK does not have any legal obligation or responsibility for the pensions of Zimbabwe former public service workers. This is because since 1923, the former Southern Rhodesia’s civil and public servants have been appointed on local terms.Zimbabwe public service pensioners do not qualify for the payment of overseas pensions.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, following the report on Yemen of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs published on 18 August 2015, what consideration she has given to providing additional humanitarian support to that country.

Mr Desmond Swayne: On 27 September 2015, the UK committed an additional £20 million in new life-saving aid to Yemen. This followed the publication of the UN report and other assessments of need that demonstrated the deterioration of the humanitarian situation.This new funding is to key partner agencies operating on the ground including the World Food Programme, UNICEF and NGOs via UN OCHA’s (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Yemen Humanitarian Pooled Fund. DFID’s overall contribution of humanitarian assistance to Yemen for 2015-16 is now £75 million, making the UK the 4th largest donor to the international humanitarian response.

Yemen

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with the UN's Humanitarian Coordinator on the situation in Yemen.

Mr Desmond Swayne: My officials are in regular contact with the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen to discuss the latest humanitarian situation, as well as with the UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator, the UN Special Envoy on the Yemen crisis for the Emergency Relief Coordinator, heads of agencies and our partners on the ground.The Secretary of State for International Development has frequent discussions with the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien on the situation in Yemen – the most recent call was on 28 October. On 28 September, the Secretary of State co-chaired an event with him and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the situation on Yemen with heads of UN agencies and international partners. Ministers have regular meetings with NGO partners to discuss their assessment of the situation. The Co-Chairs statement from the meeting can be found here: http://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/co-chairs-statement-ministerial-yemen-meeting-monday-28-september-2015

Syria: Refugees

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what changes she has instituted to the Government's overseas aid programme to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015.

Mr Desmond Swayne: To date, the UK has pledged over £1.1 billion in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region. This includes scaling up our support for longer term stability and resilience-building work inside Syria and in neighbouring countries, alongside our humanitarian aid to meet immediate needs.On 23 September the Prime Minister announced that the UK will provide £14.5 million aid to countries that refugees and migrants are leaving and transiting through. The UK has offered in-kind assistance to Serbia and Slovenia, through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (CPM).Through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme, the UK is helping some of the most vulnerable refugees who cannot be supported effectively in the region and whose needs can only be met in countries like the UK.

Department for Education

STEM Subjects: Vocational Guidance

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to promote STEM subjects and STEM career opportunities in schools.

Nick Gibb: The government has taken action by introducing a more engaging and knowledge rich curriculum, and by improving the quality of STEM teaching though a number of measures such as offering incentives to attract top graduates into teaching. We are also funding high quality professional development opportunities for STEM teachers including industrial placements.The statutory guidance underpinning a school’s duty to secure independent careers guidance is clear about the importance of STEM subjects. It states that schools should ensure that, as early as possible, pupils understand that a wide range of career choices require good knowledge of maths and the sciences.The Careers & Enterprise Company will strengthen links between employers, schools and colleges and careers and enterprise organisations. The “Your Life” campaign, launched by the government last year, aims to change the perceptions of science and mathematics among all young people.

Department for Education: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of her Department in each of the last three years.

Nick Gibb: The department uses a non-consolidated and non-pensionable part of the pay bill to reward exceptional performance. The amounts paid in end-year awards are set out in Table 1.Table 1: Total amounts paid in end year non-consolidated performance awards. The amounts paid relate to performance in the previous year.Financial Year2012/132013/142014/15£1.5m£1.65m£1.76mThe department made no in year performance awards in the years in question.

Weald of Kent Grammar School

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) guidance she has provided and (b) information her Department holds on which age groups the Sevenoaks Annexe of Weald of Kent Grammar School, recently approved by her Department plans to serve.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the accessibility of the Sevenoaks Annex of Weald of Kent Grammar School to school-age people living in the community served by the original school.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) guidance she provides and (b) information her Department holds on the admissions arrangements for the Sevenoaks Annexe of Weald of Kent Grammar School, recently approved by her Department.

Edward Timpson: Departmental advice for academies wishing to make a change to their existing arrangements is available on GOV.UK.The new annexe will serve the same age range as the existing site of Weald of Kent Grammar School, which is 11-19. The admission arrangements apply across the whole school. It is the responsibility of the academy trust as the admission authority to ensure that admission arrangements are compliant with The School Admissions Code.The newly expanded school will better meet the needs of school-age people in the community that it serves, with over 41% of students at the existing site already travelling from the Sevenoaks area.

Grammar Schools

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) applications and (b) requests for decisions in principle her Department has received on proposals for expansions of grammar schools on new sites in the last five years; and when each was received by her Department.

Edward Timpson: Local authorities are the decision makers when a maintained school proposes to expand onto an additional site. Local authorities, rather than the Department, would therefore hold the records for such proposals.Since April 2012, when the Education Funding Agency was established, the Department has received applications from two schools for expansion on to an additional site. These were both initially received in July 2013.

National Identity: Education

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will introduce teaching about the Five Mile Act 1665 and other sections of the Clarendon Code, and that code's repeal, to the curriculum on fundamental British values of freedom and religious tolerance.

Edward Timpson: We expect every school to promote the basic British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs. This ensures young people understand the importance of respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.Schools have the freedom to teach topics that meet the needs of their pupils. The history curriculum includes a compulsory unit on “the development of Church, state and society in Britain 1509-1745” and schools may choose to teach students about the Five Mile Act 1665 and the Clarendon Code.In Citizenship lessons, pupils are taught about the development of democratic government in the United Kingdom, including the roles of citizens, Parliament, and the monarch. Pupils are also taught about the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom and the need for mutual respect and understanding.

Weald of Kent Grammar School

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much time pupils will spend at each site of Weald of Kent Grammar School when its new site is open; by what mode of transport they will move and how that will be funded; what estimate she has made of the amount of time that it will take pupils to move between sites; and whether the school day will be extended to make up that time.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what grounds she decided that the recently approved annexe to the Weald of Kent grammar school is in an area that is easily accessible to the community that the school serves.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost was of (a) external and (b) internal legal advice on the approved and rejected proposals for an annexe to the Weald of Kent Grammar School.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how long officials in her Department spent considering proposals for an annexe to the Weald of Kent Grammar School.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, why the Weald of Kent Grammar School was not able to expand on its existing site.

Edward Timpson: The Weald of Kent School has set out its plans in expansion proposals. Pupils at the Sevenoaks annexe will attend the Tonbridge site at least once a week to attend a whole school assembly and additional lessons. The school will also operate a house system across the expanded school, regularly bringing students together on a range of curriculum projects. The length of the school day is a matter for the academy trust.The newly expanded school will better meet the needs of parents in the community that the school currently serves. Over 41% of pupils at the Tonbridge site already travel from the Sevenoaks area. The travel arrangements between the sites will use existing bus companies to transport pupils who live in Sevenoaks to the Tonbridge site. The proposal indicates that the journey time is approximately 17 minutes and no additional funding is being provided to the academy to cover the costs.The decision issued on 15 October 2015 was in respect of a proposal received on 14 September 2015. The Department can comment on the costs of external legal advice once we have the final costs bill.The school would not have the required capital funding to expand on this scale at the existing site.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Mike Penning: Details of the cost of a) year end and b) in year performance related payments that have been paid to officials of the department from 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 can be found at:2011/2012: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-consolidated-performance-related-payments-ncprps2013/2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-non-consolidated-performance-related-pay-2013-to-2014Data on payments made during 2014/2015 will be published in March 2016.

Insolvency: Legal Costs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what further work remains to be undertaken before he takes a final decision on the future of funding of insolvency litigation.

Dominic Raab: The Ministry of Justice is in the process of considering the way forward in relation to the application to insolvency litigation of the no win no fee reforms in Part 2 of the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Insolvency: Legal Costs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of alternatives to the current insolvency litigation funding regime.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on director conduct should the funding of insolvency litigation change under the provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on financial redress for creditors should the funding insolvency of litigation change under the provisions of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the merits of third-party funding as an alternative to the current funding regime for insolvency litigation.

Dominic Raab: An Impact Assessment was published when the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 received Royal Assent.The Ministry of Justice is in the process of considering the way forward in relation to the application to insolvency litigation of the no win no fee reforms in Part 2 of the Act.

National Probation Service for England and Wales: Staff

Victoria Prentis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average caseload is of probation officers in the National Probation Service who carry a caseload.

Victoria Prentis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many probation officers do not carry a caseload in each area of the National Probation Service.

Andrew Selous: The Ministry of Justice publishes statistics showing the total caseload of the probation service (the National Probation Service (NPS) and the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies) and also staff in post in the NPS. Figures for total probation caseload are published quarterly in the Offender Management Statistics Bulletin, England and Wales:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterlyFigures for NPS staff in post are also published quarterly, in the National Offender Management Service Workforce Statistics Bulletin:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-offender-management-service-workforce-statisticsFigures on the average caseload of probation officers are not collected centrally. Individual probation officer caseloads across the NPS are, however, carefully monitored by experienced managers. We are also developing a Workload Management Tool to assist National Probation Service Divisions, which will help with the process of allocating cases appropriately between staff.

Prisoners: Nutrition

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2015 to Question 12252, what plans his Department has to increase the nutritional content of meals served to the prison population.

Andrew Selous: Meals offered to prisoners are nutritious, balanced, varied and in line with government recommendations on eating a healthy diet.Last year, National Offender Management Service developed a model of cyclical four week menus, working closely withtheir food suppliers and nutritional technologists. As part of this process, a dietary and nutritional specialist was commissioned to review, analyse and make recommendations on the overall balance and nutritional content of the menus. These recommendations were incorporated and the menus are available to Prison Catering Teams.Prisons are also encouraged to seek nutritional advice on any changes to menus to ensure they meet national standards.

Missing Persons: Guardianship

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals on guardianship to help the families of missing people.

Dominic Raab: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for York Outer on 15 June 2015, which can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-06-08/1400/.

Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications to county courts have been made by tenants against landlords for failure to comply with their Tenancy Deposit Scheme obligations under Part 6, Chapter 4, Sections 212-213 of the Housing Act 2004 in each year since those provisions came into force; how many such cases were found in favour of the (a) landlord and (b) tenant; and of those such cases found in favour of the tenant, how many landlords were fined the full amount of three times the amount of the deposit.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Bill of Rights

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many drafts of a proposed British Bill of Rights his Department has produced in each year since 2010.

Dominic Raab: This Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. We will fully consult on our proposals before introducing legislation for a Bill of Rights and we will set out our proposals in due course.

Council Tax: Non-payment

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the decision in R (Nicolson) v Tottenham Magistrates' Court to declare the applicant's liability order unlawful, what steps HM Courts and Tribunals Service has taken to ensure that magistrates satisfy themselves that the amount claimed by way of costs by local authorities in any individual case summonsed for late or non-payment of council tax is no more than that reasonably incurred by the authority.

Mike Penning: The decision as to whether to award costs in applications for liability orders and in what amount is a matter of judicial discretion in each individual case.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Elections: Fraud

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to tackle electoral fraud in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Gary Streeter: The Commission provides advice to those who are involved on the frontline in identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of electoral fraud. Before each set of elections the Commission provides advice to the police, electoral administrators and others on ways to prevent and detect electoral fraud, based on the best practice it has identified through working with partners across electoral administration and the justice system. Each year the Commission publishes data on allegations of electoral fraud that are reported to the police.The Commission targets additional support for those on the front line in 18 areas in England where there is a higher risk of allegations of electoral fraud. This includes Peterborough and the Commission will be working again with these areas before the elections in May 2016 to build on what was done prior to the General Election. The Commission issued briefings to all honourable members in the last parliament on the work it was undertaking prior to the General Election to help tackle electoral fraud and will do so again before the elections in May 2016.In its 2014 review of electoral fraud, the Commission recommended that voters in Great Britain should be required to produce ID at polling stations, although it is yet to receive a response to this recommendation from the Government. The Commission has submitted evidence to the review being undertaken by Sir Eric Pickles and hopes that he agrees with it and that the Government accepts the Commission’s recommendation.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Merseyside Police: Football

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the potential effects of changes in the Merseyside Police mounted division on that forces' capacity to police football matches at Anfield and Goodison Park.

Tracey Crouch: I have had no such discussions. Policing outside of sports stadia is a matter for individual clubs and the local police to determine. My Department has responsibility for ensuring the safety of spectators inside of sports stadia.

Battle of Agincourt: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to promote commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt; and what plans his Department has to ensure that similar anniversaries are appropriately commemorated in the future.

Tracey Crouch: In the March 2015 budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that £1millionmwould be allocated for the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the battle of Agincourt.The fund is administered by the Agincourt 600 charity,providing grants for events and Agincourt related educational projects. DCMS officials have been working closely with Agincourt 600 in the run up to this important anniversary.TheGovernment and the Heritage Lottery Fundmade the decision towilldeliver a £10million mcontestable fund to ensure that similarhistoricanniversaries are appropriately commemorated.

Sports: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport.

Tracey Crouch: The Government supports the work ofUK Anti-Doping (UKAD)whichworkstirelessly to ensure athletes and sport are clean. Throughtesting programmes, intelligence sharing with law-enforcement agencies on supplying and trafficking,and its excellentathleteeducationinitiatives,UKAD is one of the world's most highly regardednationalanti-dopingorganisations.

FIFA: Corruption

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will discuss with the four home nations football associations allegations of corruption within FIFA and steps to rebuild public confidence in the administration of international football.

Tracey Crouch: I am in regular contact with The Football Association on a number of issues, including good governance and reform of FIFA. The Football Association are in regular contact with their Home Nation counterparts.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment and Support Allowance

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many notifications of claimant non-compliance have been received by decision makers in his Department relating to claims for employment and support allowance; and what proportion of those notifications have resulted in sanctions.

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many notifications of claimant non-compliance have been received by decision makers in his Department relating to claims for jobseeker's allowance; and what proportion of those notifications have resulted in sanctions.

Priti Patel: The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.The information that is available, on the number of sanction referrals and adverse sanction decisions, in respect of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), is published and available at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/:Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started---SuperWEB2.html

Income Support

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many notifications of claimant non-compliance have been received by decision makers in his Department relating to claims for income support; and what proportion of those notifications have resulted in sanctions.

Priti Patel: The information you have requested is not available. However official statistics are published on Income Support lone parent sanctions. These are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/income-support-lone-parent-regime-figures-on-sanctions-and-work-focused-interviews--2

Department for Work and Pensions: Credit Unions

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson: Government believes it is essential that everyone has access to affordable, good-quality financial products and that credit unions have a role in providing this vital service.DWP awarded a £38m contract to the Association of British Credit Unions Limited to deliver an expansion project to enable participating credit unions to modernise, expand their services and provide affordable credit to more consumers.DWP have also publicised the work of credit unions, encouraged DWP staff to join their local credit unions, and have ensured that benefit or pension payments can be paid into any credit union account.

Disability: Children

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to provide financial support to help children under the age of three who are eligible for a disabled parking badge but are not eligible for the mobility component of the disability living allowance.

Justin Tomlinson: The principle underpinning Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is that payments are made to families who incur extra costs as a result of meeting the additional care and/or mobility needs of a disabled child.In deciding to set the lower age limit for entitlement to the higher rate mobility component at 3 years of age, the department considered views of medical advisors and independent research that the majority of children could walk at the age of 2½. By the age of 3 it was realistically possible in the majority of cases to make an informed decision as to whether an inability to walk was the result of disability. We have no plans to make changes to DLA for children under the age of 3.

Social Security Benefits

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase the uptake of (a) income support and (b) employment and support allowance by people who are eligible.

Priti Patel: The Department does all it can to ensure that people are aware of the benefits to which they may be entitled and how to claim them, through its information providing services.Advice is available in different languages and formats, and across multiple locations. In addition to Jobcentre Plus offices, these include local authorities, law centres, Citizens Advice, post offices, doctors’ surgeries, libraries, the internet, community groups, welfare rights groups, advice centres, and various voluntary organisations.

Social Security Benefits

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to monitor regional variations in benefit uptake.

Priti Patel: Estimates of take-up are not available at geographies below Great Britain. This is due to the size of the survey sample they are based on and methods used to generate robust national figures.However, on 25th June 2015 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income-related benefits: Estimates of take-up in 2013/14 (experimental)”. The full report can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-201314

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of changes to disability benefits on spending by the NHS.

Justin Tomlinson: Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are universal benefits that help with the extra costs arising from a long-term health condition or disability. Spending on these benefits increased by over £2 billion over the course of the last parliament and we expect to be spending over £21 billion this year. We would expect individuals to be accessing the relevant support services, regardless of benefit receipt and do not expect the reforms to disability benefits to impact health services. We have also set up the Work and Health Joint Unit with the Department of Health to improve health and employment outcomes for claimants.

State Retirement Pensions

Joanna  Cherry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on single tier pensions on people contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme.

Justin Tomlinson: Contracting out of additional State Pension for Defined Benefit schemes will end on the introduction of the new State Pension from 6 April 2016. The impact on individuals is set out in the Updated impact of the single-tier pension reforms (July 2014) and can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332996/single-tier-pension-impact-assessment-update-july-2014.pdf

Refugees: Syria

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the benefits cap applies to Syrian migrants.

Justin Tomlinson: Syrians entering the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme are able to work and have access to some benefits on arrival. Like other claimants they will be subject to the benefit cap.

Flexible Support Fund

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what budget was allocated to the Flexible Support Fund in the most recent financial year for which data is available; and how much of that budget remained unspent.

Priti Patel: The budget allocated for Flexible Support Fund in 14/15 was £136m [excluding the support contract which was a further £20m]. Spend was £72m, leaving an underspend of £64m

Employment Schemes

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who started employment through the Work Based Sector Academy scheme were still in employment with the same organisation after 13 weeks since that scheme began.

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to monitor sustained employment through the Work Based Sector Employment scheme beyond 13 week follow-up enquiries to employers.

Priti Patel: Official statistics record starts to sector-based work academy pre-employment training only. The Department does not collate information on outcomes, nor the number of benefit claimants finding work through a sector-based work academy placement. There are no current plans to do so.Official statistics are available on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/youth-contract-april-2012-to-may-2015

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the effect of benefit sanctions on levels of poverty.

Priti Patel: The current employment rate of 73.6% is a record high.Work is the best route out of poverty, and the system of conditionality that underpins the welfare system is the most effective way to support jobseekers into work.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the monthly running costs of administering benefit sanctions.

Priti Patel: The department does not hold information on the monthly running costs of administering benefit sanctions.This information cannot be captured at this level even at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap on the number of workless households.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the hon.Member to the answer I gave today to Oral Question UIN 901933The benefit cap is having a long term positive impact on people’s lives, and encouraging them to find work.Over 60,000 households have been capped since April 2013. As of May 2015, over 40,000 households were no longer subject to the benefit cap. Of those, 16,300 households moved into work.

Welfare State: Reform

Mr Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate the Government has made of the number of working families which will be affected by its reforms to benefits.

Priti Patel: The welfare system we inherited from Labour was uncontrolled, unaffordable and favoured welfare over work. This Government is undertaking widespread reform to ensure that work always pays, and restoring fairness for the hardworking taxpayers who pay for it.Universal Credit will radically reform working-age benefits system via improved work incentives, increased simplicity and increased conditionality. Once fully rolled out, we estimate that around 3.8 million working households will be affected by the move to UC.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Mr Philip Dunne: Non consolidated performance awards are paid to reward excellence and are given to no more than 25% of staff each year based on the relative assessment of performance against objectives throughout the reporting year. The awards are not pensionable and the values for each grade are set centrally and agreed by the Secretary of State as part of the annual pay remit.The Special Bonus Scheme (SBS) is discretionary and there is no limit on the number of people that can receive a cash award provided the award is approved within the policy, rules and guidance governing the SBS. Special Bonuses are not pensionable and are awarded for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification that benefits the Ministry of Defence and the individual. A Special Bonus can be awarded at any time. Awards vary in value with the maximum single payment being £2,000.The following table shows how much the Department has paid out in year-end performance awards and the SBS in each of the last four financial years to staff below the Senior Civil Service.TYPE OF AWARDFINANCIAL YEAR (1 APRIL TO 31 MARCH) £ Million2011-122012-132013-142014-15Performance Award38252018.5Special Bonus Scheme3.9444.6Total41.929.024.023.1The following table details the combined total value of payments made to staff below the Senior Civil Service by way of non consolidated performance awards and SBS awards for financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11.Financial YearTotal Value of Awards made £ Million2008-0947.52009-1044.22010-1143.5

Veterans UK

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average response time was of Veterans UK to queries raised with them by veterans in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested is not held. However, between 1 April and 30 September 2015, the Veterans UK Helpline received a total of 79,636 calls, answered within an average of two minutes 17 seconds. A total of 18,638 emails and approximately 84,500 letters (all correspondence received via the Norcross Post Room - it is not possible to filter out Veteran UK queries, from claim forms and post for other areas of Defence Business Services), were received and acknowledged within five working days with a full response expected to be issued within 10 working days.Over the same period the Veterans Welfare Service addressed 10,448 queries. A total of 27 per cent were resolved at first point of contact, with the remainder being immediately referred to Welfare Managers for follow up visits; arranged within 10 working days.

Navy: Recruitment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy (a) officers and (b) rating recruits of each branch, specialisation and arm joined from foreign navies in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2014-15.

Mr Philip Dunne: To determine if recruits to the Royal Navy have previously served in other nations' navies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Navy: Re-employment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Royal Navy recruits in each (a) rank and (b) branch specialisation and arm were (a) trained re-entrants, (b) partially trained re-entrants and (c) untrained re-entrants in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2014-15.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information is not held for the whole period requested. I will place copies of the available information in the Library of the House.

Navy

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Royal Navy's (a) liability, (b) trained strength and (c) untrained strength for each (i) rank and (ii) branch specialisation and arm was in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2014-15.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information requested, from January 2010, is available in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Monthly Personnel Statistics, published on gov.uk at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/royal-naval-monthly-report-personnel-situation-statistics-indexThe reports are not available prior to 2010, and this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Submarines

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total additional cost was of the net 52-month deferment of the final stage of the Core Production Capability Project.

Mr Philip Dunne: As stated in the National Audit Office (NAO) Major Projects Report (MPR) 2015, the Core Production Capability project was deferred for 52 months due to the decision to refuel HMS Vanguard and keep the option open to refuel HMS Victorious. As a result of this new requirement that was unforeseen, an additional £196 million was approved for this project of which £17.6 million represents the cost of deferment.

Armed Forces: Credit Unions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a feasibility study on establishing a credit union open to British military personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: On 8 December 2014, the then Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Anna Soubry) fully endorsed the expansion of existing, strong Credit Unions to the Armed Forces community and stated that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was working to bring this about. The Minister also advised that the MOD's payroll provider was working with officials to scope and cost payroll deductions for a Credit Union.The work on scoping payroll deductions has now been concluded successfully and we have now established a facility where Credit Union services are available to Armed Forces personnel via payroll deductions; the formal launch of this service took place on 15 October 2015.The three chosen Credit Unions are PlaneSaver Credit Union, London Mutual Credit Union and Police Credit Union trading as Serve and Protect. This facility will provide UK Armed Forces personnel with access to dependable savings facilities and safe affordable loans.An internal communication has been issued across the Department to alert Service personnel of this new facility.

Radar: Hebrides Range

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has for the replacement of radar capable of distinguishing between wind turbines and missiles at its Hebridean range.

Mr Philip Dunne: Air space management and missile tracking activity at the Hebrides Test and Evaluation Range requires interaction between three local radar systems. A technical upgrade of one radar system was undertaken earlier this year including capability to potentially mitigate the detection of aircraft type targets from possible interference from wind turbines. In the next few years it is also planned to replace a second radar system, although on current plans this will not include capability to mitigate wind turbine interference. There are no plans to replace the third radar system which is not susceptible to interference from wind turbines.

Ministry of Defence: Senior Civil Servants

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department are from a lower socio-economic background.

Mr Philip Dunne: This information is not held.

Air Force: Canada

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to hold discussions with the Canadian government on future Royal Canadian Air Force procurement policy.

Mr Philip Dunne: I and my Ministerial colleagues expect to continue to have periodic discussions with the Canadian Defence Minister, once appointed, and relevant colleagues and officials on a range of issues including future Royal Canadian Air Force procurement policy.

NATO: Military Decorations

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to allow UK citizens who have been awarded the NATO Africa Medal for efforts against piracy to wear that medal in public; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government is immensely proud of the courage and professionalism displayed by the UK Armed Forces in support of NATO counter-piracy operations off the coast of Africa. Their effort has helped to deter and disrupt pirate attacks and set the conditions for a more viable and secure region.Members of the UK Armed Forces may accept foreign military awards, although only those medals that Her Majesty The Queen has approved for wear may be worn. The NATO Africa Medal has not been approved for wear and may not, therefore, be worn by Service personnel.

Home Office

Immigration

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of her Department's procedures and adequacy of the end-to-end timescale in relation to applications for no time limit and biometric immigration documentation by someone who already has indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

James Brokenshire: There are no plans for a specific review of the administrative handling of immigration applications. UK Visas and Immigration is, however, committed to the principles of continuous improvement and to applying these to ensure processes are efficient and effective.The administrative requirements, and service standards, to which applicants for indefinite leave to remain are subject, are set out at www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/settle-in-the-uk. This information is reviewed regularly, with a view to ensuring it is as clear as possible.

Hate Crime

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department plans to work in partnership with (a) communities and (b) other Government departments on tackling hate crimes and challenging extremism which leads to violence.

Karen Bradley: The Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy was published on 19 October. This sets out how all parts of government will work together to tackle all forms of extremism.To defeat extremism, we must work in partnership with communities. The strategy sets out how we will develop a network of civil society groups and individuals who share our commitment to defeat extremism and protect communities.The Prime Minister also recently announced that as the Government had promised in 2016 UK Police Forces across England and Wales will record Anti Muslim Hatred alongside other religious hate crime as a specific categorised offence.The New Cross-Government Hate Crime Action Plan is currently being developed by the Home Office in partnership with other Government departments, policing colleagues and external stakeholders.

Radicalism: Research

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 46 of her Department's Counter-Extremism Strategy, published on 19 October 2015, how much funding her Department will make available for commissioning and funding research.

Karen Bradley: We are determining the requirements and precise funding allocation for research to be commissioned. We will be working closely with a range of experts, including academics and universities, to improve our understanding of extremism. Opportunities for part-funded research will be allocated competitively.

Radicalism

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 88 of the Counter-Extremism Strategy, published on 19 October 2015, what support was given to the 700 individuals.

Karen Bradley: Channel is a multi-agency process and support can be provided from a range of local agencies. The support programme is tailored to the individual based on an assessment of their vulnerabilities. It can include: ideological and theological mentoring; anger management; education skills; and family or health support. Further information is provided on page 17 of the Channel Duty Guidance, available on www.gov.uk.

Radicalism

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 117 of the Counter-Extremism Strategy, published on 19 October 2015, what the timescale is for introducing the Extremism Community Trigger.

Karen Bradley: The Extremism Community Trigger will be introduced in due course.

Community Engagement Forum

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2015 to Written Question 11808, who attended the first meeting of the Community Engagement Forum, on 13 October 2015.

Karen Bradley: Holding answer received on 27 October 2015



The following individuals attended the first meeting of the Community Engagement Forum on 13 October 2015:• David Cameron, Prime Minister• Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Countering Extremism• Theresa May, Home Secretary• Louise Casey, Department for Communities and Local Government• Max Chambers, Special Adviser on Home Affairs• Camilla Cavendish, Number 10• Brendan Threlfall, Number 10• Arooj Shah, Councillor, St Mary’s Ward, Oldham• Sean Harriss, Chief Executive, Lambeth Council• Paul Martin, Chief Executive, Wandsworth Council• Sheikh Musa Admani, Imam and Muslim chaplain, City University, London• Fareed Ahmad, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association• Farooq Aftab, General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association• Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester• Khatun Sapnara, circuit judge • Aina Khan, solicitor• Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Director, Faith Matters• Sadja Mughal OBE, Director, Jan Trust• Haras Rafiq, Managing Director, Quilliam Foundation• Sara Khan, Co-founder and Director, Inspire• Wahida Shaffi, Near Neighbours Coordinator; National Women’s Programme Lead, Christian Muslim Forum• Faiza Vaid, Executive Director, Muslim Women’s Network• Aysha and Kiran Iqbal Patel, Directors, Odara• Kamal Hanif OBE, Executive Head, Waverley School, Birmingham• Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive, Oldham College

Security Guards: Complaints

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to extend the Independent Police Complaint Commission's remit to oversee complaints against private security companies performing outsourced policing functions.

Mike Penning: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (Complaints and Misconduct) (Contrac-tor) Regulations 2015, provides the IPCC with the power to deal with complaints, conduct matters and matters relating to deaths and serious injury (DSI) involving those who have entered into a contract with a local policing body or a chief officer to provide services to a chief officer.

Security Guards: Licensing

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled, Future Regulatory Regime for the Private Security Industry, what steps she is taking to introduce business licensing in that industry.

Karen Bradley: The Government is committed to ensuring the integrity of the private security industry and this includes the possible introduction of business licensing.In July. the Government committed to a review (formerly triennial review) of the Security Industry Authority. That review may make further recommendations for legislative change that the Government would want to consider as a composite package.

Gangmasters Licensing Authority: Finance

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to reduce the Gangmasters Licensing Authority's Grant-In-Aid budget over the next 12 months.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish its strategic plan for housing Syrian refugees.

Richard Harrington: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian refugees she expects to be housed in the UK by December 2015.

Richard Harrington: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Crime

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Question 1 of the consultation, Tackling exploitation in the labour market, published by her Department and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in October 2015, what the legal definition is of organised labour market exploitation.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: Crime

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Question 1 of the consultation, Tackling exploitation in the labour market, published by her Department and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in October 2015, what account of international law her Department took in defining labour market exploitation.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Students: India

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students from India were granted a visa to study in Britain in 1990.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Students: India

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students from India were granted a visa to study in Britain in 2014.

James Brokenshire: There were 11,699 entry clearance visas granted to Indian nationals for study in 2014. This figure relates to main applicants, and is available in the published entry clearance visa statistics (Immigration Statistics April-June 2015, Home Office, table vi_06_q_s, Tier 4 & pre-PBS equivalent).The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in ‘Immigration Statistics, April-June 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics

Overseas Students: India

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many students from India were granted a visa to study in Britain in 2000.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HM Treasury

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Bill Wiggin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will allocate a proportion of road tax receipts to the repair of roads.

Bill Wiggin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will allocate a proportion of fuel duty receipts to the repair of roads.

Bill Wiggin: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the average level of per car tax receipt in each year since 2012.

Damian Hinds: At the Summer Budget the government announced the creation of a Roads Fund so that from 2020 all money raised from VED in England will be invested in the Roads Fund and used to improve the English strategic road network. The latest figures for VED revenue can be found in Table C.3 of Summer Budget 2015, which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summer-budget-2015. Revenue raised for previous years can be found in the relevant Budget document.

Taxation: Urban Areas

Bob Stewart: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to bring forward legislation for a city tax on tourists and other visitors.

Mr David Gauke: The Government has no plans to introduce a ‘city tax’ on tourists or visitors to the UK.

Treasury: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Harriett Baldwin: Information on Non-consolidated performance related pay for HM Treasury is publically available on gov.uk as part of the Transparency agenda. The information is up to date for the last 2 financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14.Non-consolidated performance related pay is only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. These one-off payments are not pensionable. Since 2010-11 the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving around £15 million overall.

Welfare Tax Credits

Seema Malhotra: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a distributional analysis of the effect of the changes to thresholds and taper rates for tax credits for each income decile.

Damian Hinds: The distributional analysis published at Summer Budget 2015[1] is the most comprehensive available, showing the cumulative effect of policies on welfare, tax, and public service spending measures since 2010.This analysis shows the proportion of spending received by households in each quintile has not changed since 2010-11: around half of all spending on welfare and public services is still going to the poorest 40% of households.[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443229/PU1822_Distributional_Analysis.pdf Additional HMT analysis that fed into the published Impact Assessment[1] shows how the share of savings from the tax credit changes are distributed for each income decile on the income distribution for tax credit claimants. This has clearly demonstrated that tax credit claimants on the highest incomes – on average £42,000 a year - will contribute nearly 4 times as much as the claimants on the lowest incomes to the savings from this policy.[1] http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-committees/Secondary-Legislation-Scrutiny-Committee/DraftTaxCreditsRegs2015-ImpactAssessment.pdf

Living Wage: Young People

Seema Malhotra: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the potential additional tax revenues accruing to the public purse of paying 18 to 21 year olds the national living wage.

Damian Hinds: The information requested is not available.

Welfare Tax Credits: Families

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2015 to Question 12348, what estimate he has made of the number of families whose income will reduce as a result of the proposed changes to tax credits.

Damian Hinds: No such estimate has been made.This Government is committed to moving from a high welfare, high tax, low wage economy to a lower welfare, lower tax, higher wage society. As the Chancellor has made clear, the Government will set out at Autumn Statement how we plan to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.

Treasury: Credit Unions

Gareth Thomas: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to promote the use of credit unions in the work of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is committed to continuing to support the credit union movement in making financial services more accessible.The Government has taken significant steps to support the credit union movement in Great Britain. These include increasing the maximum interest rate that credit unions can charge on loans from 2% to 3% per month; investing £38m in the sector through the Department of Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Credit Union Expansion Project; ensuring that universal credit and pensions payments can be paid into any credit union account; providing £500,000 to help armed forces personnel access credit union services; and launching a Call for Evidence which allowed all credit unions, regardless of size or influence, the opportunity to contribute their vision for the future of the sector to the wider debate.

Spirits: Scotland

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support his Department is providing to the spirits industry in Scotland.

Damian Hinds: The government is committed to supporting the spirits industry in Scotland. The duty on spirits was cut by 2% at March Budget 2015, building on the duty freeze at Budget 2014. These measures have benefited the Scotch whisky industry in addition to the overall spirits industry across the UK.

In Work Credit

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average duration is of an in-work tax credit claim containing an underlying entitlement to Working Tax Credit.

Damian Hinds: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.This Government is committed to moving from a high welfare, high tax, low wage economy to a lower welfare, lower tax, higher wage society. As the Chancellor has made clear, the Government will set out at Autumn Statement how we plan to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits, saving the money we need to save to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.

Cider: Excise Duties

Danny Kinahan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to restore the cider differential.

Damian Hinds: The government recognises that small cider producers are a traditional part of rural economies and its support for small cider producers has helped create a diverse and vibrant market, improving consumer choice and creating jobs. To support the wider industry, at the March 2015 Budget the duty on lower strength cider was cut by 2 per cent.

Bank Notes: Plastics

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations he has received on the use of plastic bank notes; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Bank of England is the issuing authority for banknotes. Following research and a public consultation in 2013, the Bank decided that new polymer £5 and £10 banknotes would come into circulation at the end of 2016 and 2017 respectively. In September 2015, the Bank announced that the next £20 note will also be printed on polymer after considering further developments in banknote technology.

Welfare Tax Credits: Foreign Nationals

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of paying to foreign nationals (a) child and (b) other tax credits in 2015-16.

Damian Hinds: The information is not available.

Financial Services: Advisory Services

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many regulated Retail Financial Advisory firms there are; and how many have five or more financial advisers working for them.

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many registered financial advisers are sole traders.

Harriett Baldwin: This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply to you directly by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data his Department collects on people who have exercised new pension freedoms who have not accessed the Pension Wise service.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data his Department collects on the (a) demographics, (b) pension pot size and (c) decisions taken after the consultation of people accessing the Pension Wise service.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to gather data on people accessing the Pension Wise service.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have accessed the Pension Wise service through the (a) face-to-face service provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau and (b) telephone service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service to date.

Harriett Baldwin: The government committed to providing free, impartial guidance through Pension Wise, to help people make informed and confident decisions about how they use their defined contribution pension savings in retirement. It is available online, via the telephone and face to face. As of 29 October 2015, there were over 20,000 completed appointments for face to face guidance and 9,000 completed appointments for telephone guidance as well as over 1.7 million visits to the website.Pension Wise runs exit surveys of those who have completed an appointment It is not mandatory for a user to complete an exit survey. The government is committed to being open and transparent with Pension Wise data and will be making core data readily available by placing it on the government performance platform this autumn. The data will be in the public domain and updated regularly. HM Treasury is working with Pension Wise delivery partners to provide the level of detail that we require for reporting purposes.The Financial Conduct Authority, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, is monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and has committed to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively.The government recognises that people may wish to consult different sources of information before reaching a decision about their retirement income. In addition to Pension Wise, The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) provides independent, impartial information and guidance about pensions, free of charge, to members of the public. The Money Advice Service also provides free and unbiased information and guidance on all money matters.A number of pension providers offer financial guidance. Individuals can also access regulated advice from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly considering how financial advice could be made more accessible and affordable for consumers through the Financial Advice Market Review.

Lloyds Bank

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will hold discussions with Lloyds Bank on that company prioritising the payment of dividends to encourage small shareholders to retain shares for the long term, in advance of further sales of the Government's stake in that company.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government is planning to encourage long-term share ownership in Lloyds shares, offering the incentive of bonus shares for longer-term investors.Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) remains a commercial company in which the Government is currently a shareholder. The Government’s shareholding is managed at arm’s length from HM Treasury by UK Financial Investments (UKFI). The Government does not involve itself in the commercial decisions of LBG. Whether or not to pay dividends to its shareholders is a commercial decision to be made by the bank’s independent management team.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government is taking steps to recover underpaid vehicle tax in respect of vehicles with higher emissions than certified by emission test data.

Damian Hinds: Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates are based on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The “defeat devices” recently found in some VW diesel cars affect nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions. There is therefore currently no evidence that this issue has resulted in an artificial reduction in VED revenues. UK taxpayers will not incur higher VED if their existing vehicles are found to be fitted with illegal software that manipulates emissions tests. Following VW’s admission of using ‘defeat devices’ in diesel cars there is an ongoing UK government investigation.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Offshore Industry: Carbon Sequestration

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic benefit of carbon capture and storage being used as a means to increase oil and gas production from the UK Continental Shelf.

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect of the Carbon Capture and Storage on achieving maximum economic recovery of oil and gas in the North Sea.

Andrea Leadsom: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has the potential to play an important role in enabling the UK to decarbonise its energy system. The Wood Review recognised that offshore storage of carbon dioxide could potentially benefit the UK continental shelf, and called for continued collaboration between industry, academia and DECC as the most appropriate means to realise the opportunity.With the UK continental shelf now being one of the more mature offshore basins in the world, the Wood Review identified a range of key issues which the Government and industry must jointly address to deliver maximum economic recovery (MER) of UK petroleum, stressing the importance of a focused regulator. In accordance with the recommendations of the Wood Review, the Government is working to establish the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), as a body with the objective of delivering MER.The Government has taken steps to set up the OGA quickly in accordance with the recommendations of the Wood Review, which continues to attract strong industry support. In addition to its role as licencing authority for offshore carbon dioxide storage, the OGA is developing the Sector Strategies called for by the Wood Review. In developing the Technology and Decommissioning Sector Strategies, the OGA is considering the potential for offshore storage of carbon dioxide to help achieve MER.Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) techniques that utilise carbon dioxide may also have a role in increasing hydrocarbon recovery in future. In its Technology Sector Strategy, the OGA will consider the potential contribution that the various EOR technologies, including carbon dioxide EOR, could make towards MER.The OGA’s key actions are already providing crucial support to the oil and gas industry. Without this, we risk premature decommissioning of the UK continental shelf, loss of stranded assets and loss of the key infrastructure and skills – including those which could ultimately promote the longevity of the industry through carbon dioxide storage projects. This underlines the importance of the OGA focusing upon maximising economic recovery and constructively engaging with the CCS industry.

Renewable Energy: Housing

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information her Department holds on the administrative costs to consumers and businesses of regulations which govern household renewable energy systems and energy efficiency.

Andrea Leadsom: Estimates of the administrative costs of major household renewable energy and energy efficiency schemes are typically published in impact assessments accompanying individual scheme regulations. Examples for two of the largest major domestic energy efficiency and renewable energy regulations can be found at:Energy efficiency: Energy Company Obligation (pp. 31-32):https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/373650/ECO_IA_with_SoS_e-sigf_v2.pdf. In scheme reporting on administrative costs is also available quarterly at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/green-deal-and-energy-company-obligation-eco-statisticsRenewable energy: Feed in Tariffs (p. 43):https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/458662/IA_for_FITs_consultation_August_2015_-_FINAL_docx__e-signature_included__v2.pdf)

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the (a) causes and (b) effect of the construction delays of reactors in China and France built by the proposed vendors of reactors planned for Hinkley Point C and Bradwell; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies on the construction of new nuclear power stations of these delays.

Andrea Leadsom: Delays at the Olkiluoto 3 and Flamanville 3 reactors have resulted from a combination of technical, regulatory and contractual reasons, many of which are unlikely to be repeated at Hinkley Point C due to differing regulatory regimes, improved contracting arrangements and in light of the experience that the developer is gaining from these projects.In addition, there are strong commercial incentives built into the contract for difference to minimise construction delays and cost overruns. The Contract for Difference (CfD) Strike Price cannot rise if there are construction cost over-runs so any cost overrun would have to be borne by the Project’s investors. Further, low carbon payments under the CfD will only be made once the plant starts generating. The incentives are therefore on the developer to deliver the Project within budget and on time, and if it succeeds in bringing it in under budget, there is a construction gainshare mechanism to ensure sharing of any savings with the consumer.

China: Nuclear Power

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential threat to national security of the choice of the Chinese government company General Nuclear International as an investment partner for the development of the Hinkley Point C nuclear plant.

Andrea Leadsom: We have a robust system in the UK for examining whether investments into our country are in the national interest. Safety and security in the civil nuclear industry are of paramount importance to the Government. Companies involved in the UK nuclear industry must do so in accordance with the UK’s stringent regulations enforced by an independent regulator. On this basis we welcome companies which can demonstrate the capability to contribute to safe and secure nuclear power generation in the UK.There is a longstanding convention of successive Governments not commenting in detailon security and intelligence matters.

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost to the public purse was of the solar industry feed-in tariff in (a) the UK and (b) London in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 28 October 2015



The Feed-in-Tariff is not financed through the public purse. The cost of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme is paid for through a levy on consumer electricity bills and managed within the Levy Control Framework (LCF).The table below shows total payments for all technologies under the FITs scheme as reported by Ofgem. Payments made under the FIT scheme are not available by technology, but the majority of deployment is solar photovoltaic. We do not hold this data by region.2010/112011/122012/132013/14FIT Total Expenditure£14,526,123 £151,147,686£511,137,737£690,991,283Below you can find a link to Ofgem’s webpage of Annual Reports:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme/feed-tariff-reports-and-statistics/annual-reportsOfgem’s Annual Report reporting generation payments for 2014/15 will be released in the next few months.

Fracking: East Riding

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make it her policy to ensure that no shale gas extraction is allowed in areas which supply the aquifers for drinking water to Hull and East Yorkshire.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 29 October 2015



In the UK, we have been successfully regulating for gas and oil drilling for over 50 years and have tough regulations in place to prevent water contamination.All hydraulic fracturing operations will require a groundwater activity permit. The Environment Agency will not grant a permit where the risks to groundwater are unacceptable. They have powers to impose conditions to ensure proper protection or to prohibit activities which they consider to pose unacceptable risks.The Infrastructure Act 2015 required the Government to specify protected groundwater source areas within which hydraulic fracturing cannot take place, which we did in draft regulations debated in the House on 27 October. They define these areas as being equivalent to Source Protection Zones 1, which applies to those areas close to drinking water sources where there is the greatest risk associated with groundwater contamination. This will reinforce the regulatory approach, as it is consistent with the approach taken by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales to control the risks from other groundwater activities.

Fracking: East Riding

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of shale gas extraction on aquifers in East Yorkshire.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 29 October 2015



In the UK, we have been successfully regulating for gas and oil drilling for over 50 years and have tough regulations in place to prevent water contamination.All hydraulic fracturing operations will require a groundwater activity permit. The Environment Agency will not grant a permit where the risks to groundwater are unacceptable. They have powers to impose conditions to ensure proper protection or to prohibit activities which they consider to pose unacceptable risks.The Infrastructure Act 2015 required the Government to specify protected groundwater source areas within which hydraulic fracturing cannot take place, which we did in draft regulations debated in the House on 27 October. They define these areas as being equivalent to Source Protection Zones 1, which applies to those areas close to drinking water sources where there is the greatest risk associated with groundwater contamination. This will reinforce the regulatory approach, as it is consistent with the approach taken by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales to control the risks from other groundwater activities.

Wind Power: Subsidies

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the withdrawal of market support mechanisms for onshore wind on (a) security of supply, (b) the UK's ability to meet its 2020 renewables target, (c) consumer bills and (d) jobs in the onshore wind sector; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: We are delivering our election commitment to end subsidies for new onshore wind. We are seeking to legislate through the Energy Bill to close the renewable obligation (RO) to new onshore wind capacity from 1 April 2016, one year earlier than planned. The Department has published an Impact Assessment (IA) that considers the potential effects of the Government’s proposals to close the RO to new onshore wind early. This contains the information requested and can be viewed on Parliament’s website at:http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/energy.htmlSmall-scale onshore wind projects up to 5 megawatts in scale are eligible for support under the feed-in-tariff (FITs) scheme. DECC has proposed action, through the FITs review consultation, to control spending and put FITs onto an affordable and sustainable footing. This consultation is now closed and we are considering the responses that we have received. Further information can be found online at the following link, including an IA that considers the potential impact of the Government’s proposals:https://econsultation.decc.gov.uk/office-for-renewable-energy-deployment-ored/fit-review-2015.

Nuclear Power Stations: China

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department plans to take to safeguard new nuclear energy facilities constructed in the UK with Chinese involvement from future Chinese cyber attacks; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: In the UK nuclear security is overseen by the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended) require those holding Sensitive Nuclear Information to have in place robust security measures approved by ONR in order to protect this information. The ONR conducts inspections to ensure compliance with security requirements and has powers of enforcement in the event of a breach.As part of the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) DECC has funded: 1) enhanced cyber security training; 2) a rigorous cyber incident response exercising programme; 3) forums and briefings for senior industry personnel to raise awareness of cyber threats; and, 4) work to ensure new nuclear power plants will be cyber secure by design. This work is undertaken in collaboration with industry and the ONR to ensure that there is a process of continuous improvement for cyber security in the civil nuclear sector.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans she has for future levels of feed-in tariffs to community groups.

Andrea Leadsom: The consultation on the future of the FIT scheme closed on the 23rd October. We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the consultation. We will publish a government response to the consultation in due course.

Fracking

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment her Department has made of the role of fracking in meeting the future energy needs of the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Written Ministerial Statement by my rt. hon. Friends, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 16 September 2015 (Official Report, Column 34-38WS), sets out the Government’s view that there is a national need to explore and develop our shale gas and oil resources in a safe, sustainable and timely way, to help meet our objectives for secure energy supplies, economic growth and lower carbon emissions.A successful shale industry could help create jobs and grow local economies. Investment in shale could reach £33billion and support up to 64,000 jobs in oil, gas, construction, engineering and chemical sectors. The opportunity to extract this energy, as well as to secure jobs and investment, cannot be ignored.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of changes in employment in the renewable energy sector as a result of changes in policy towards feed-in tariffs.

Andrea Leadsom: Our consultation on the feed-in tariff review reflects the need to balance sector support whilst keeping bills down for consumers. We strongly welcomed evidence from the sector during this review consultation, which ended on 23 October, and will respond in due course.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Office in each of the last three years.

Matthew Hancock: As part of this Government’s transparency agenda, all Departments are required to publish information about non-consolidated performance related payments annually. Information about non-consolidated awards paid to officials in my Department going back as far as awards paid for performance in the year 2011/12 is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-dataInformation about awards paid in 2015/16 for performance in the year 2014/15 is not due to be published until later this year and will be available on GOV.UK.

Civil Servants: Training

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2015 to Question 12401, if he will publish the socio-economic data collected for the 2015 intake of the Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 30 October 2015



There is an ongoing review into the most effective and appropriate definition for social mobility which we will align with in future years. This work is being led by The Bridge Group, a charitable policy association promoting social mobility, as part of research they are undertaking on social mobility in the Fast Stream.This research is the largest quantitative analysis of its kind and will help to inform how we define and measure social mobility across all Civil Service talent schemes, including the Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme. The research will also help us to determine what information we collate and publish on these schemes in a meaningful and accessible way.We are also working towards a position where we collate and publish diversity data in a single format on the gov.ukwebsite to improve transparency and accountability on overall progress towards diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service.

Mental Illness: Mortality Rates

Kate Hollern: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which psychiatric disorder had the highest mortality rate in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



Referrel Answer for Member - Mortality Rate
(PDF Document, 75.2 KB)




UKSA Letter to Member - Mortality Rate
(PDF Document, 110.01 KB)

Special Advisers Remuneration Committee

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2015 to Question 13086, whether the Special Advisers Remuneration Committee still exists.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 30 October 2015



The arrangements for the determination of special advisers’ pay are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers.

Lung Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of smoking in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Lung Cancer
(PDF Document, 82.05 KB)

Heroin: Overdoses

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have died as a result of a heroin overdose in each of the last 15 years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Heroin Overdose
(PDF Document, 127.66 KB)

Freedom of Information

Diana Johnson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward proposals to add the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Office of the Biometrics Commissioner to Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Senior Civil Servants: Recruitment

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost of using external agencies for recruitment to the Senior Civil Service across all Government departments in each of the last three years.

Matthew Hancock: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Electronic Government: Cybercrime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that personal information housed on the Government Gateway system is better protected.

Matthew Hancock: The Government takes cyber security very seriously.We have invested more than £860 million in cyber-security and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect organisations and individuals from attacks.Government Gateway has an on-going security programme, and more broadlyCyber security is a Tier 1 risk in the National Strategic Risk Assessment, alongside international terrorism. We urge all online service users to keep their log-in details safe, be suspicious of unsolicited emails and keep their anti-virus software up to date.

Electronic Government: Cybercrime

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of (a) which personal details and (b) how many individual profiles were hacked as a result of the cyber security breach of the Government Gateway system.

Matthew Hancock: To date the security reports on the Government Gateway system have shown no indication of a cyber security breach. We are continuously monitoring and managing the security risks to all HMG systems,taking appropriate action where necessary and ensuring we maintain the best possible level of security.We are aware Government Gateway credentials stored outside government systems have been harvested by malware. This highlights the importance of users implementing and maintaining good security practices, for example, installing and updating anti-virus software, as well as never sharing or using a single password for all internet activities.We will continue to increase our levels of security monitoring and management on all our systems.

Committees

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to pay a daily rate or fee to members of the review committee he has proposed on securing the decisive role of the Commons on financial matters and secondary legislation; and what rate he plans to set for that work.

John Penrose: The Government has asked Lord Strathclyde to lead a review to examine how to secure the decisive role of the elected House of Commons in relation to (i) its primacy on financial matters; and (ii) secondary legislation. Lord Strathclyde will be supported by a panel of experts and further details will be announced in due course.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Marine Protected Areas

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of progress on achieving an ecologically-coherent network of marine protected areas in UK seas.

George Eustice: The Government is committed to creating a Blue Belt of Marine Protected Areas around our coast. In February 2014 the Joint Nature Conservation Committee published an assessment of remaining gaps in the Marine Protected Area network in the waters for which the Secretary of State is responsible (around England and offshore waters of Wales and Northern Ireland). It can be viewed at: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/140224_BigGapsMethod_v8.pdf).This analysis is being updated, and will be published in due course.I have also recently consulted on designating a second tranche of Marine Conservation Zones in English waters.

Trees

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many trees the Government plans to plant during the current Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: A total of £31m per year of new Rural Development Programme funding will be spent on forestry, with £13m being spent on woodland management and £18m on new planting. By investing in woodlands, Countryside Stewardship will help us fulfil the Government’s manifesto commitment to plant another 11 million trees by supporting the creation of around 24,711 acres of new woodland.I will keep the House updated on our progress.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to impose restrictions on the free movement of camelids in the UK to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

George Eustice: The Tuberculosis (Deer and Camelid) (England) Order 2014 provides powers to restrict the movement of a camelid that shows clinical signs of bovine TB, tests positive to the disease or has been exposed to the infection. These powers may require the keeper to take reasonable steps to prevent the affected animal from coming into contact with any other farmed animal on the same premises or on adjoining premises and prevent the movement of camelids on to or off such premises except under a licence issued by an inspector. In addition, my Department has worked with the British Alpaca and Llama Societies on the design and promotion of a TB testing regime that includes voluntary routine surveillance. A call for views on control of bovine TB in non-bovine farmed animals, including camelids, is currently in progress and will run until 20 November.

Slaughterhouses: Inspections

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of UK slaughterhouses were inspected in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: All approved slaughterhouses are inspected every day they operate. Slaughterhouses are also audited a minimum of once every 12 months, with a greater frequency of audits where deficiencies have been identified during previous audits.

Slaughterhouses: CCTV

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the opinion of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee on CCTV in slaughterhouses, published in February 2015.

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Knowsley, George Howarth on 24 June 2015, PQs UIN 2944 and 2945.

Birds: Trapping

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents of Larsen trap tampering there have been in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: Defra does not collect data relating to the interference with traps, including Larsen traps.

Badgers: Conservation

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to control the number of badgers in the next 12 months.

George Eustice: We are committed to our strategy to make England free of bovine TB, of which culling badgers in areas where the disease is rife is a key element.

Water: Greater London

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the EU Water Framework Directive on the level of water available in London.

Rory Stewart: The Water Framework Directive aims to protect and improve surface waters and groundwater and promote sustainable water use so that we have a sufficient supply of good quality water for people and the environment. Actions to achieve this are set out in river basin management plans every 6 years.On the 30th October, the Environment Agency published proposed updated plans which they submitted to the Secretary of State for approval, including the Thames plan which covers London. The preparation of the proposed plan has involved an assessment of current and future water availability in the Thames river basin.

Water: Greater London

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on creating a North-South water pipeline to bring water to London.

Rory Stewart: The Government is currently not considering any specific proposals to create a North-South water pipeline. Though we do recognise that increasing interconnection in our water supply system to allow water to be traded and moved will help improve long-term resilience, water is heavy and expensive to move over long distances and its transfer can also have adverse environmental impacts. In the short-term, the transfers that are most likely to be beneficial are strategic interconnection projects to join up water supply zones within, and between, water company networks.In the longer-term, greater join-up between these networks could allow for the more strategic management of water transfers over a wider area. With the industry, we are exploring ways to increase cross-company collaboration over the next water resources planning period.

Department of Health

Medicine: Education

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost to the taxpayer is of training someone to become a doctor in the UK.

Ben Gummer: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 08 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The Department does not hold information on the average cost to the taxpayer of training someone to become a doctor in the United Kingdom.  The Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent estimates within their report ‘Unit Costs of Health and Social Care 2014’, published March 2014, that the average cost in 2013/14 2014/15 of training to become a general practitioner is £485,390 with the consultant training cost being £726,551. These figures reflect the pre-registration costs of tuition, living expenses/lost production and clinical placements and the post-graduate costs of tuition and replacement costs not the average cost to the taxpayer.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not hold information on the average cost to the taxpayer of training someone to become a doctor in the United Kingdom.  The Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent estimates within their report ‘Unit Costs of Health and Social Care 2014’, published March 2014, that the average cost in 2013/14 2014/15 of training to become a general practitioner is £485,390 with the consultant training cost being £726,551. These figures reflect the pre-registration costs of tuition, living expenses/lost production and clinical placements and the post-graduate costs of tuition and replacement costs not the average cost to the taxpayer.

Myeloma: Drugs

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision to remove treatments for multiple myeloma from the Cancer Drugs Fund list on survival rates for patients with that condition.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that no assessment has been made of the impact of these changes to the national Cancer Drugs Fund list on survival rates for multiple myeloma. These changes have not yet been finalised and agreed.

Cancer: Drugs

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to reform NICE to ensure that patient access to cancer treatments is guaranteed after the Cancer Drugs Fund is discontinued in April 2016.

George Freeman: The Government remains committed to the Cancer Drugs Fund and is working with NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the future arrangements for the Fund.

Department of Health: Pay

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

Jane Ellison: Non-consolidated performance related pay is only paid to reward excellence, for example to recognise and incentivise those responsible for delivering high quality public services and savings to the taxpayer. These one-off payments are not pensionable. Since 2010-11 the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers (from 65% in previous years), saving around £15 million overall.To date in 2015-16, the Department has spent £868,410 on ‘year-end’ non- consolidated performance pay awards and £155,549 on ‘in-year ‘non-consolidated performance pay awards to its officials.The table below shows the Department’s expenditure on non-consolidated performance related payments for the last three complete financial years.Financial YearIn-Year Award*End Year Award2014-15£254,524£843,0012013-14£202,000£796,3572012-13£252,115£902,741*End-year non-consolidated performance related payments paid in each of the financial year relates to performance in the previous year.

Food: Children

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to address the availability of healthy and nutritious food for children during school holidays as part of its new obesity strategy.

Jane Ellison: Tackling obesity including improving diet and healthy food choices, particularly in children, is one of our major priorities. We will put forward our plans for action in this area in our childhood obesity strategy in the new year.

Myeloma: Drugs

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that patients with multiple myeloma have access to extending medicines after treatments for that condition are removed from the Cancer Drugs Fund in November 2015.

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that funding is available for treatments for multiple myeloma after the removal of treatments for that condition from the Cancer Drugs Fund.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that a draft treatment pathway for patients with multiple myeloma is currently in the process of being finalised. This has been the subject of public consultation and is being revised to take into account the comments received and the potential impact of treatments removed from the Cancer Drugs Fund.The treatment pathway is likely to be published early in 2016.

Public Health England: Meetings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library the minutes of each Public Health England board meeting in 2015.

Jane Ellison: Minutes of all Public Health England (PHE) Board meetings are published on PHE website’s Board pages and therefore publically available. The minutes for the Board meetings held during 2015 have been placed in the library, and can also be found on the Meetings 2015 page of the website below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-health-england-board-meetings

Eating Disorders: Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the introduction of the waiting time standards for eating disorder services by 2020.

Alistair Burt: NHS England and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health published on 3 August 2015, a commissioning guide for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that will set out how to implement the access and waiting time standard for children and young people with an eating disorder.The standard is for treatment to be received within a maximum of four weeks from first contact with a designated healthcare professional for routine cases and within one week for urgent cases. In cases of emergency, the eating disorder service should be contacted to provide support within 24 hours.The guidance is supported by £30 million of recurrent funding, which NHS England has already distributed to CCGs.The ability of services to meet this standard will be monitored in 2016. The standard will be refined for implementation from 2017–18. From 2017, NHS England will set a minimum proportion of young people referred for assessment or treatment that are expected to receive treatment within the standard’s timeframe. Data collected in 2016 will help inform incremental percentage increases, with the aim of 95% of patients being treated within the standard’s timescale by 2020.

Lymphoedema: Health Services

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Prescribed Specialist Services Advisory Group has made on discussions on proposals for a nationally-commissioned specialist lymphology service.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will issue a response to the report by the National Cancer Action Team, Lymphoedema Services in England: A Case for Change, published in March 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) commission services are for the treatment and care of lymphoedema patients; and what guidance has been issued to CCGs on the commissioning of those services.

George Freeman: At its meeting on 15 October 2015, the Prescribed Specialist Services Advisory Group (PSSAG) considered a proposal from the British Lymphology Society for a service for lymphoedema to be nationally commissioned. PSSAG’s recommendations on all proposals considered at this meeting will be put to Ministers shortly.It is for Ministers to decide which services should be prescribed as specialised services and therefore nationally commissioned by NHS England. Ministers make these decisions based on advice from PSSAG.Regarding the Lymphoedema Services in England: A Case for Change report, published by the National Cancer Action Team in March 2013, the main recommendation for the NHS Commissioning Board (now NHS England) to consider was the creation of a lymphoedema strategy for England.NHS England is focused on a system-wide approach that aims to ensure improvements in outcomes for all individuals with long-term conditions, including lymphoedema, rather than focusing on individual strategies for specific conditions.The commissioning of services for the treatment and care of lymphoedema patients is a local matter, and information concerning the arrangement of such services is not collected. People with lymphoedema can usually be managed through routine access to primary or second care services and there is range of guidance to support local commissioning, including: an international consensus document on best practice in the diagnosis, treatment care and support of people with; and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on advanced breast cancer, which provides advice on lymphoedema care. Both sets of guidance can be found at the following links:www.woundsinternational.com/media/issues/210/files/content_175.pdfwww.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg81/resources/advanced-breast-cancer-diagnosis-and-treatment-975683850181

Eating Disorders: Third Sector

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of support provided by the third sector in supporting people with eating disorders.

Alistair Burt: The Department has not made a formal assessment, but we greatly value the role of the voluntary sector in providing support for children and young people with mental health needs, and work closely with a number of leading charities at a national level and throughout the system.NHS England is responsible for the approval and assurance of clinical commissioning group (CCG) plans for locally-commissioned services, including services for people with eating disorders.In line with guidance published by NHS England in August, CCGs have produced Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) for children and young people’s mental health with their local partners, including those in the voluntary sector, in line with the proposal in Future in mind. The deadline for receipt of these LTPs was 16 October and they are now being considered by NHS England.

Department of Health: Trading Standards Institute

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the delivery agreement and agreed deliverables between his Department and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards.

Jane Ellison: The Department has a contract with itsa Ltd, the business arm of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, for the enforcement of tobacco legislation and support for local authorities. The award letter and supporting documents for this contract are available online at:https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1072169/

Department of Health: Grants

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a clause into the conditions relating to grants made by his Department to third parties to ensure that they are not used to fund activities intended to influence (a) parliament, government or political parties, (b) the awarding or renewal of Government contracts and grants and (c) legislative or regulatory action.

Alistair Burt: The Department will consider the hon. Member's representation.

Nurses: Travel

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing discount travel fares for all nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Alistair Burt: The merits of discounted travel fares is a local matter for individual organisations and the staff they employ to consider. We understand that the Human Resource Directors’ network in London is looking at economic factors within the capital that impact on the retention of nurses in the short and medium term.

Department of Health: Meetings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings (a) he, (b) his officials and (c) the Minister for Public Health have had with representatives of (i) the Food and Drink Federation and (ii) companies producing food and drink in each month since January 2014; and what the agenda of each such meeting was.

Jane Ellison: Details of all Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the GOV.UK website. Information for 2014 is available at:www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2014The latest publication which covers meetings between January and March 2015 can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2015Departmental officials have regular and ongoing discussions with representatives from the Food and Drink Federation and companies producing food and drink. Discussions have included actions and commitments being made by industry to improve the nation’s diet, successes achieved and challenges to make further progress.

Public Health England

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions the Minister for Public Health has had with the Chief Executive of Public Health England in each month since January 2015.

Jane Ellison: I meet regularly with Duncan Selbie, the Chief Executive of Public Health England, and generally have an informal meeting with him on a monthly basis.

Health Services: Weather

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, over what period NHS England plans to run Winter Daily Situation Reports during the winter of 2015; over what period NHS England ran those reports in the past; by what process NHS England decides on the time period over which to run additional winter monitoring; and what guidance his Department issues to NHS England on the time period over which to run that monitoring.

Jane Ellison: Winter Daily Situation Reports will commence on 1 December 2015, and will continue through to the end of February 2016. NHS England will publish the first data on 11 December 2015.Winter Daily Situation Reports were first collected in November 2010. The table below shows the periods for which the data has been collected in previous years.2010-111 November 2010 to 20 February 201112011-121 November 2011 to 1 March 201212012-136 November 2012 to 28 February 201312013-144 November 2013 to 30 March 201422014-153 November 2014 to 29 March 20152Notes:1 Collected by Department of Health2 Collected by NHS EnglandUntil 2012-13, Daily Winter Situation Reports were collected by the Department. Since 2013-14 they have been collected by NHS England. Each year, NHS England reviews reporting requirements over the winter, in discussion with partners. This includes the duration of the collection.The Department has not issued guidance to NHS England about the time period for which Winter Daily Situation Reports should be collected.

Cancer: Bolton West

Chris Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individual requests for cancer medicines have been made to the Cancer Drugs Fund in Bolton West constituency; how many patients received funding as a result of those requests; and how much the Cancer Drugs Fund allocated in respect of those patients.

George Freeman: This information is not collected centrally.

Social Services

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the additional financial resources needed by local authorities to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Department’s estimate of the additional financial resources needed by local authorities to meet their new duties under the Care Act 2014 is set out in the Care Act impact assessment, which can be found here:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/impactsPage five of the impact assessment has a summary of all estimated costs related to Part 1 of the Care Act 2014 over 10 years from 2015/16. The impact assessment sets out the basis for the estimates in each case.

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date he expects the publication of new Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set (2016-2017) indicators.

George Freeman: The 2016/17 Clinical Commissioning Group Outcome Indicator set will be published if new indicators are selected for 2016/17. NHS England are currently reviewing the process for new indicators for 2016/17 in light of wider work to assess local health systems, as detailed in the recent publication by The King’s Fund, Measuring the performance of local health systems. A publication date will not be set until the process for 2016/17 is agreed.The King’s Fund publication can be viewed at:http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/articles/measuring-performance-local-health-systems.

Cancer: Drugs

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11044, what criteria NHS England plans to use in deciding which treatments remain on the Cancer Drugs Fund.

George Freeman: The criteria for reviewing the drugs on the national Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) list is outlined in NHS England’s publishedCDF Standard Operating Procedure which is available at:www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what payments were made to the devolved administrations under the terms of the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme in each quarter of (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16 to date.

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department has received each quarter in rebate payments under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme; and what estimate his Department has made of receipts for the remainder of that scheme.

George Freeman: The Government recognises that the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) payments that companies make under the 2014 scheme in respect of the United Kingdom need to be allocated to each of the devolved administrations in a fair way. The PPRS payments that companies make under the scheme in respect of the UK are allocated to each of the four countries on an agreed basis each year.Apportionment is not covered by the terms of the PPRS. However, the four countries agreed the current method for apportioning payments which is based on primary care spend for licensed branded medicines, as the most consistent data set available across the UK. Income is apportioned using prescribing data for the same period as the income relates. The Health Departments explored with industry whether an accurate four country split of PPRS sales data could be obtained to inform the apportionment, but not all companies are able to provide this data.The attached table includes the total quarterly PPRS income paid to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales from Q1 2014 to Q2 2015. Note that as well as PPRS payments this income also includes historic cash payments made by companies that were members of the 2009 PPRS.It should be noted that companies are currently submitting audited reports for 2014 which is likely to lead to some adjustments to the PPRS income already paid.The Department routinely publishes PPRS aggregate net sales and payment information quarterly at:PPRS: quarterly net sales and payment information - Publications - GOV.UKThe Department published estimates of the levels of PPRS payments expected in 2014/15 and 2015/16 when the payment percentage for 2015 was published in December 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pprs-payment-percentageThe Department intends to publish updated estimates for 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 in December 2015 when the payment percentage for 2016 is announced. The Department is not able to provide estimates for later years of the scheme as they would be very misleading due to the uncertainty involved.



Quarterly PPRS income- Scotland, N Ireland, Wales 
(Word Document, 25.14 KB)

Autism: Diagnosis

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2015 to Question 11101, on what dates his Department plans to begin and end its consultation on its mandate to NHS England.

George Freeman: A public consultation on the Government’s mandate to NHS England for 2016/17 launched on 29 October 2015. The mandate sets the Government’s objectives for NHS England, as well as its budget. The consultation document sets out our proposed approach and the strategic priorities that will form the new mandate.The consultation closes on 23 November, and the mandate will be finalised in light of responses and the outcome of the Government’s Spending Review, ahead of publication in December.To find out more and submit a consultation response go to:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/setting-the-mandate-to-nhs-england-for-2016-to-2017

Palliative Care

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the Choice Review.

Ben Gummer: The Department commissioned the Review of Choice in End of Life Care to examine the issue of choice in end of life care. The Review’s recommendations on achieving high quality care and greater choice were published earlier this year. We agree with the vision set out by the Review and we are working with NHS England to see how this can best be achieved. We intend to respond to the Review later this year.

Children: Death

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding his Department has made available to research the causes of child death in each of the last five financial years.

George Freeman: The information requested is not available. The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Department’s Policy Research Programme (PRP). Spend on research funded directly by the NIHR is categorised by Health Research Classification System (HRCS) health categories. There are no HRCS health sub-categories, and no category or sub-category for causes of child death.The PRP is investing £7.9 million from April 2010 to December 2017 in the Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, which is based in the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford. The investment is funding a programme of research that includes research on infant deaths.

Plastic Surgery: Negligence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to recover the cost of treating patients who have received injuries from negligent cosmetic surgery from private providers from those providers.

Ben Gummer: Clinical commissioning groups have local arrangements in place to recover the costs from private healthcare providers.The NHS Standard Contract requires all contractors of National Health Service care to hold and maintain adequate and appropriate indemnity arrangements. The commissioner issuing the contract should always ensure that sufficient indemnity/ insurance is in place.Private healthcare providers are now able to use the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts. Changes were made to secondary legislation to allow this to happen from April 2013.

Colchicine

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with (a) pharmaceutical companies and (b) the Royal Colleges on making colchicine available on the NHS for the treatment of cancer.

George Freeman: No such discussions have taken place. We understand that a potential treatment for cancer derived from colchicine is currently in development and clinical trials are due to start in 2016.

Maternity Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of instances of a newborn baby being sent home from hospital with a woman other than that baby's biological mother in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Gummer: Information on the incidences of newborn babies being sent home from hospital with a woman other than that baby’s biological mother is not collected centrally.

Radiotherapy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons NHS England is proposing to have only two cancer centres using stereotactic radiosurgery to treat the most complex brain tumours.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has recently completed a public consultation on a revised service specification for stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy for intracranial conditions. This can be accessed at:https://www.engage.england.nhs.uk/survey/srs-srt_service_revision/consult_viewThe consultation contained reference to the 4 Tier clinical model and proposed a service model as follows:- 17 services delivering both Tier 1 and 2 activity;- 2 services delivering both Tier 3 and 4 activity; and- 2 services delivering paediatric oncology activity.Tier 1 and Tier 2 activity predominantly includes oncology indications, whilst Tier 3 and Tier 4 activity contains benign indications. Therefore, NHS England has not proposed to commission only two services to deliver complex brain tumour treatments.Tiers 3 and 4 are focused on patients with benign non-cancer lesions that are extremely small in number per year, not life threatening, and will generally be treated at a single visit. These patients are not managed as part of a “cancer centre” but, following consultation, the consensus was to concentrate these patients into a small number of very experienced centres.

Radiotherapy: North East

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals in the North East are treating brain tumour patients with stereotactic radiosurgery; and how many patients have been treated in each such hospital in each year since NHS England was created.

Jane Ellison: There was no recorded activity of stereotactic radiosurgery or radiotherapy in 2013-14 for hospitals in the North East¹.¹Source: The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episodes Statistics database 2013-14.Notes: 2013-14 is the latest data available.Return is based on using the codes supplied by the classifications service (A10.7 Stereotactic radiosurgery on tissue of the brain and Y91.5 Megavoltage treatment for hypofractioned stereotactic radiotherapy).There are no specific OPCS-4.7 codes that classify stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. The terms stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy are sometimes used synonymously.

Carers

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report, Prevent, Reduce, Delay: Are councils meeting their new duties to support unpaid carers, published by the Carers Trust in October 2015, on the level of compliance by councils with their duty under the Care Act 2014 to prevent carers developing a need for support.

Alistair Burt: The Care Act 2014 and guidance are clear about the provision of preventative services. Under the Care Act, local authorities have a responsibility to support carers in a number of ways. This includes duties on local authorities to provide information and advice and universal preventative services for carers.The Carers Trust report Prevent, Reduce, Delay: Are councils meeting their new duties to support unpaid carers is a helpful contribution to the evidence around the new prevention duty and how councils are working to fulfil it as regards carers.However, it is difficult to draw conclusions about practice from the report, given the uncertainty it notes about how councils have interpreted the Freedom of Information request on which the report is based, and the variable quality of responses.We continue to pursue other measures to monitor and support implementation of the Care Act.To support implementation of the reform programme, we have established a joint Programme Management Office between the Department, Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adults Social Services. This unprecedented partnership is driving collaborative working with the sector, influencing the local implementation of these changes to support a consistent and coherent approach. This approach was recognised by the National Audit Office as best practice and should be adopted by other programmes.The programme includes a series of stocktakes of local authority readiness and the latest, from June 2015, demonstrates an overall positive picture on implementation:- Councils’ confidence in their ability to deliver the Care Act Reforms in 2015/16 remains high, with 99% very or fairly confident.- 89% of councils say that they are ‘on track’ with their implementation. The remaining 11% report themselves as only slightly behind.The Department is also leading on the development of a new National Carers’ Strategy that will examine what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers.

Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time was for patients assigned to cognitive behavioural therapy on 1 October in each year since 2010 in (a) the UK, (b) London, (c) each London borough and (d) each health trust in London.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients were (a) receiving and (b) on the waiting list to receive cognitive behavioural therapy on 1 October in each year since 2010 in (a) the UK, (b) London, (c) each London borough and (d) each health trust in London.

Alistair Burt: This information is not held centrally.

Defibrillators

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 2.21 of the Summer Budget 2015, what arrangements he has put in place to enable the funding provided for defibrillators to be disbursed.

Jane Ellison: Following our 2015 Budget commitment on defibrillators, we have awarded the British Heart Foundation (BHF) £1 million to make public access defibrillators and coronary pulmonary resuscitation training more widely available in communities across England.More information can be found on the BHF’s website:https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/nation-of-lifesavers/about-defibrillators/apply-for-a-defibrillator-in-england

Cancer: Health Services

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2015 to Question 11110, how much the NHS spent on cancer services in each year since 2012-13; and what the year-on-year change in that amount was in real terms.

Jane Ellison: Overall National Health Service expenditure on cancer services is not available for 2013-14 or 2014-15. NHS England has published clinical commissioning group (CCG) level expenditure on cancer for 2013-14, which was estimated to be £2.8 billion. CCGs are currently in the process of preparing estimates of expenditure for cancer services in 2014-15.CCG expenditure is a proportion of overall NHS expenditure, as NHS England commissions some cancer services directly. NHS England is currently reviewing the data on direct commissioning expenditure and plans to publish this when finalised.

Mental Health Services: Lancashire

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many in-patient NHS beds for mental health patients Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust provided on its own premises on 1 June (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015; and what the locations of those beds was on each such date.

Alistair Burt: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the average daily number of available mental illness overnight beds for the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust during the first quarter of each financial year.Average daily number of available mental illness overnight beds, quarter 1Name2010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust748659572520521510Source:Quarterly collection of bed availability and occupancy, NHS EnglandNotes:Quarterly collection of beds data started in Quarter 1 2010-11. Previously data were collected annually and are not comparable.Available (staffed) beds are collected for consultant-led care in general and acute, maternity, mental health and learning disability services.Information is only available at Trust level and not for individual locations. This information may be obtained from the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust. We have written to Derek Brown, Chair of the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Radiotherapy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals in England treat arteriovenous malformations and pituitary ademomas with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Jane Ellison: There are eight hospitals which currently treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations.There are 10 hospitals which currently treat pituitary adenomas. This condition falls within the definition of a Tier 2 service in the new service model. It will, therefore, continue to be treated by a range of hospitals across the country.

General Practitioners: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GPs in London were aged 60 or over on 1 October 2010.

Alistair Burt: NHS workforce data are not available as at 1 October 2010. Figures shown in the following tables are for the total number of general practitioners (GPs) working in London and the number of GPs in London aged 60 or over as at 30 September 2010.All GPs (including retainers and registrars)London totalNumber aged 60+Headcount5,930968Full time equivalent5,357890 GPs (excluding retainers and registrars)London totalNumber aged 60+Headcount5,340964Full time equivalent4,820887Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre (General and Personal Medical Services Statistics).

General Practitioners: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies there were for GPs in (a) London and (b) each London borough on 1 October in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is not centrally held.

Antidepressants: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were issued in each year since 2010 in (a) the UK, (b) London, (c) each London borough and (d) each health trust in London.

Alistair Burt: Information is not held centrally on the number of prescription items issued. The attached tables provide numbers of anti-depressant prescription items written in England and London, and dispensed in the United Kingdom, for the available financial years 2011/12 to 2014/15. Information relating to prescriptions written in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, are a matter for the Devolved Administrations.



Anti-depressant prescription items 2011-15
(Word Document, 31.13 KB)